For the next month and a half Martinez and her colleagues will meet with department heads and hold three public hearings on Democratic Mayor Bill Finch's $519.9 million budget and tax hikes. The full 20-person, all-Democrat council is expected to vote on a budget around May 11.

Faced with a possible $10 million cut to state aid, Finch wants to raise the mill rate 2.5 mills, which could add $400 onto the average homeowner's $6,839.38 bill.

Finch and his staff estimate the increase will be closer to $215 -- or around $18 a month. But even that more modest amount is too much, said Martinez and other council members.

"Across the board it's a big deal," said Councilman Susan Brannelly, D-130, a new budget committee co-chairman. "To be frank the entire council's running for re-election in November. In my neighborhood (seaside Black Rock) we're not talking a couple hundred a year ... My neighbors are saying `I pay $20,000 a year in taxes to you.' And that person who is at that ($200) average doesn't know where that $200 will come from."

Bridgeport's median household income is $40,000.

Councilman M. Evette Brantley, D-132, said as a single homeowner she can commiserate with other residents in her situation who are already struggling financially.

"Everything's going up, but your pay's not," Brantley said, adding the city's Water Pollution Control Authority has also warned the council of a likely sewer-use fee hike this summer.

Council President Thomas McCarthy, D-133, said he is well aware Bridgeport is overtaxed, but it was too soon for him to stake out a position on Finch's proposal. In his 12 years as a member, he said he does not recall a budget season when the council did not make significant alterations to the mayor's proposal.

Finch did not help his cause with the council when, while presiding over Monday's regular meeting, he tried to adjourn without giving members insight into the budgets going out Tuesday.

"He's always trying to blindside us," said Andre Baker, D-139, the rare member who is openly critical of the administration. "(He) shoves stuff down your throat. That's how he rolls."

Under charter the budget had to be delivered to council members Tuesday.

The mayor and his staff provided an overview to the Connecticut Post's editorial board Monday afternoon, as has been the practice. They then met privately with McCarthy, Brannelly and the other budget chairman, Councilman Angel dePara, D-136.

The mayor, who in some prior years has at least read aloud a budget summary, was about to adjourn the meeting when Councilman John Olson, D-132, asked Finch to say something.

"You're not going to say a word to us?" Olson said.

Finch quickly agreed to outline his plans. But he became defensive and emotional about the tax increases. He said his administration has worked hard to keep those costs down and, as he has in recent weeks, criticized a report by tax preparation giant H&R Block dubbing Bridgeport the nation's highest taxed city.

"It's a total lie," Finch said. "I wasn't planning on giving a speech tonight, but ... enough of the lies. We're working real hard together."

On Tuesday dePara and Brannelly said the mayor should have planned to discuss the budget with the full council Monday night.

"It would have also been more proactive to have alerted the council to the issues sooner and the difficulties sooner," dePara said.

Brannelly said, "There is some level of `we've done everything, we're giving you this, but it's sort of a formality'. Oh no. We've got a lot of work to do."

Finch spokesman Elaine Ficarra said the mayor appreciated Olson's "candor" and his door is open to the council and public.

"This was the first step in a very long process, and the mayor believes the council plays a very important role throughout the entire budget process and looks forward to the feedback from members," she said.

McCarthy, who twice tried unsuccessfully to adjourn Monday's meeting, but was interrupted by colleagues who wanted to talk about the budget, said the mayor was not being disrespectful.

"I think this is much ado about nothing, to be honest with you," McCarthy said. "By the end of this we'll have heard from (the mayor and his administration) plenty of times."

More importantly, McCarthy said, residents who oppose tax hikes need to make suggestions.

"We want to hear what services are important to them. When you cut to a certain level you're now starting to impact on certain services," McCarthy said.